amylase: any of a class of digestive enzymes, present in saliva and also contributed to the gut by the exocrine pancreas, that break down complex carbohydrates such as starch into simpler sugars such as glucose
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Hellenic *ə- Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-) Proto-Indo-European *melh₂-der. Proto-Hellenic *mólā Ancient Greek μύλη (múlē) Ancient Greek ἄμῠλος (ámŭlos) Ancient Greek ἄμῠλον (ámŭlon)der. Latin amylumlbor. Polish amyl Polish -aza Polish amylaza From amyl + -aza. First attested in 1895.